Safe road crossing technology for people living with blindness/low vision

There are nearly 200,000 Victorians with some form of low vision or blindness. One of the greatest dangers for people with low vision or blindness (who do not have a Guide Dog) is the potential to deviate off course and veer into oncoming traffic while crossing an intersection or road. Guide Dogs Victoria will partner with technology company, Thought Works, to release a Sensacane; that will improve safety and independence for people living with low vision or blindness. The Sensacane will be tested and trialled by local clients at GDVs campus at Kew and then become available to the public.

While the commonly used long cane is limited to the tactile detection of obstacles, the Sensacane builds on this current function by incorporating haptic (vibration) feedback to provide navigational feedback to the user. The Sensacane will address the issue of safety when travelling for people with vision loss. The Sensacane will reduce risk of death and injury for people with low vision and blindness. It will improve their independence as they will be able to safely navigate previously inaccessible intersections. Find out more: https://www.itwire.com/internet-of-things/83033-lead-kindly-light-device-helps-blind-cross-roads-safely.html